Thoughts about Royals

Wedding of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium

Happy Anniversary to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, who got married on this day in 1999. The couple have four children and succeeded to the Belgian Throne in 2013. In honour of their anniversary, we are taking a look back at their wedding-

The then Duke of Brabant married Jonkvrouw Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz in a Civil Ceremony at the Town Hall of Brussels, which followed by a Catholic Ceremony at the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula.

Afterwards, the Duke and new Duchess of Brabant returned to the Royal Palace of Brussels, where they waved to crowds from the balcony. Earlier, they had also waved to crowds from the balcony of the Town Hall, after the Civil Ceremony.

Royal Guests included Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark, Queen Sofia of Spain, King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, the Prince of Wales, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan, Prince Hans-Adam II and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein, King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania,

The Duke of Brabant wore the uniform of a colonel in the Belgian Air Force with the sash and star of the Order of Leopold. The new Crown Princess Mathilde wore a Édouard Vermeulen coat-gown with Queen Paola’s heirloom veil, Queen Elisabeth’s Diamond Bandeau, and pearl and diamond earrings (a gift from King Albert and Queen Paola).